Grim Reaper's EulogyAnother brew that's been around for a while. Though it's not been a real "old timey beer", it has had a reputation at backyard events in its heyday. This is one of the first cold filtered beers in modern times; the name gives that away. Great at softball events and the like...but not too much on the nostalgia. They are wringing a bit out of the latter-day crowd for the guys like girls factor as evidenced on their website.

This is more of a 'bottle drunk' beer than in the glass or mug. I've already given my shovel's worth of dirt, so you decide.

Postmortem Brew Review
Brown color, slight reddish tinge when held up to light.
Malty and nutty flavor, the way a brown ale ought to be.
Slim caramel color head with little lacing.
Light to medium mouth feel, good aftertaste of slight hops.

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
Newkies, as they have been referred to, have been invading the US shores for sometime now. They are getting a loyal following, introducing the masses to what a proper brown ale should be. And who says the Brit's drink everything at room temp? The front of the bottle label says "Drink Cool." It doesn't seem they're attempting to offer tips on style with that statement.

Here you'll find no overpowering hops, no extra fizzy pizazz, no 'smart' packaging. Just good old fashioned, honest to goodness brown ale in clear bottles. It doesn't hurt they have some flashy yellow labeling, but the clear bottle shows the ultra good, solid liquid craft inside.

Get off the lagers for a while and lose yourself in something unique, "...The one and only!"

Postmortem Brew ReviewClear and pale yellow in color.
Grainy corn smell and flavor.
Fast foaming head that doesn't last long.
Smooth and crisp with light body.

Grim Reaper's EulogyThe "Champagne of Beers" has a draft-in-a-bottle cousin, and it is not remarkably different than High Life. So does this mean it is more of a marketing trend? While it is low cost, High Life is even less, with measurably the same taste. MGD is not really terrible, but neither is it special. And while it has some heritage, it's not nearly as old time as High Life.

Postmortem Brew ReviewBright yellow color.
Grain smell but not overpowering.
Lots of bubbles in all sizes that leaves a thin head after standing.
Light to medium body and color.
Crisp and drinkable flavor if served chilled.

Grim Reaper's EulogyAny beer around since the 19th century commands to be in the 'Brews of Yesterbeer' being showcased this month. 'Yellow Bellies' in the familiar yellow-and-brown packaging were a bit of a mystery during my youth, as the product never shipped east of the Mississippi river (prior to 1981). The beer needed to be kept refrigerated during shipment due to the brewing process. Coors didn't have a large scale distribution platform back then, but as they say, necessity is the mother of invention.

A beverage store, just over the border from my home state, had a nondescript dark blue Ford EconoVan with a refrigeration unit. They would make a 2800 mile round trip west to pick up some of these suds. You were in luck on Friday's if that van's hood was still warm...'cause that meant the cold filtered goodness was just inside the store. They never advertised it, so like a speakeasy from the 1930's, you had to know how to approach the cashier and ask. It came at a marked up premium to be sure, but you didn't mind forking over a few extra bucks for a curiosity. Remember, this was in the days before craft beer & micro brews. It had an allure, a panache, a je ne sais quoi you just couldn't find anywhere else.

Today, Coors survives with it's good name intact. This had been done through alliances with other long standing brewers that dared to go up against the 'Big Red White & Blue' juggernaut, that is, AB. Whether it was MolsonCoors or the current MillerCoors, they still have a place in the world's refreshment. Coors has their loyal legions, as noted by their sponsorship of many favorite sporting events in America.

Coors recently added some whimsy with the 'blue mountains' beer-mometer. Check out the cold and warm bottles in the pic above. Oh, about the 'Banquet' moniker...if you can get by the pretense, this beer will make a beach party or picnic seem like a banquet. So, here's to one guy named Adolph that made the world a better place, because of his beer.

Postmortem Brew ReviewAmber red color.
Slight sweetness up front, but not overpowering.
Pours with a decent head, but thins after standing.
Light to medium body with a little bit of hops.
Clean, crisp and drinkable.

Grim Reaper's EulogyJust had to have an Irish brew for St. Patrick's day. Upon a closer look though, it appears this may be from the motherland recipe, but it is brewed here in the states. It's red, it's Irish and it's not too bad. You can definitely do worse than this beer. And, for the price and ability to drink more than one? It goes down smooth.

Postmortem Brew ReviewYellow in color.
Grain smell with some hops up front.
Nicely foaming head but it soon dissapears.
Light to medium body and color.
Crisp and smooth flavor.

Grim Reaper's EulogyThere's a song from the 1920's that goes, "...everything old is new again." Well we certainly have a curious case for that song here. This brew pre-dates that song by more than 60 years.

Pabst is a favorite with the newly minted '21' set. Or should that read, nearly 21? I digress. Today's college youth embraces this bracing beer for it's reasonable cost, and relative availability near campuses across America. It's been sooo out there that it has come back in vogue. Cult like, in status. Hip. Even cool, daddy-o!

You already know this beer is named for a prize blue ribbon. And, as recent as 2006 it won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival. You gotta' admit, that iscool. But, it gets better...

As many of the old time beers vanished from the face of the earth, Pabst remained steadfast. They survivied by becoming smaller until they became a virtual brewery! In fact, they no longer own any breweries. Instead, the production is farmed out to others for a price. That makes Pabst so hip, that today we could refer to them as an i-Beer. Want more cool? Their bottle tops have surprise playing card values underneath. Play six pack poker with your friends; loser buys the next round! Better still, everyone open their first one and low card is the designated driver for the night...you'll thank yourself later.

Today Pabst has such broad appeal that they maintain a connection to youthful consumers. So get that stereotype out of your head of the old codger sipping one, down at the VFW. Don't believe me? Check out their website. Cool as a case of PBR on ice!

Extra Pale since 1939, it's famous "green and white" painted on label with the horse and paddock fence, nor the Tito brother's formula has changed much. And there's still that mystery of "33" to go along with it's lore. This beer was famously found at picnics, especially those that included a fair game of 'horseshoes'. Clear, clean tasting and refreshing, you can enjoy this simple easy drinker with your favorite BBQ foods and an ear of corn-on-the-cob, (or corn-on-the-bone as we say at our crypt!)

Alas, it has had one change since then. The locale of their famous 'glass lined tanks' has moved from Latrobe PA to St. Louis MO. Anheuser-Busch has added them to their (ahem) stable in order to keep this noble name afloat. The Rock should now get some well deserved national attention, with their new campaign "Born Small Town". Once a regional northeast beer, it was hard to get west of the mighty Mississippi. In its day this beer was the 'Coors of the East'.

Postmortem Brew ReviewClear and pale yellow in color.
Grassy flavor with distinct sweet grainy smell.
Soapy, two finger head with just a bit of lacing.
Crisp flavor and smooth finish.

Grim Reaper's EulogyThe "Champagne of Beers" with their distinct girl-over-the-moon on the label, this gal has been around for more than 100 years, still in the original clear long neck bottle. Very recognizable, it's one of the bigger mass produced beers that doesn't put a dent in your budget and still delivers an unpretentious air. Over the years of their advertising, this beer has let you know it is for relaxing with, as in their jingle, "...if you've got the time, we've got the beer!"

Well, I had plenty of time to take in this 12-pack at the budget friendly price of $6.74! Wow....you can pay that much for another pretentiously snobby bottle or draught, down at your local watering hole. For this price I can make eleven friends, too! By the way, the company is now Miller Coors. It seems they have had to make friends with their beer to stay in the game.

Grim Reaper's EulogyHere we go...an indulgence into retro beers, or what I refer to as "Brews from Yester-beer." Okay, I know that's corny, but we begin with a brew that everyone knows...Bud. Once the flagship product of AB, it is now supplanted by Bud Light in production and sales.

This beer is one you will always find available in mass quantity, wherever you are. It is the beer we all reach for in the absence of any real beers. It is old, reliable Bud. Good enough for a softball game, a picnic at the beach or pool, or even at weddings, (and sometimes funerals.) Well okay after the funeral.

What with the beginning of the Lenten season and the poor economy, I decided to indulge a fantasy into what were and in some cases still are some great old beers. Stay tuned...